language change Flashcards
what is language reflectionism
the idea that langaueg reflects the needs/views of its users
what is langauge determinism
the idea that langauge determines/ controls our reality influencing the way we think and behave
whats does langauge reflectivity claim
claims that language exerts a powerful influence over how we think and behave
whats functional theory
functional theory is the idea that langauge changes to suit the needs of its users, so as new words arrive, older ones drop out–> LOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR LANGUAGE CHANGE
what quote links with functional theory (crystal 2011)
‘because people are changing all the time, their language changes to keep up with them’
whats random fluctional theory
the idea that language change is not logical and an ordered process
what are the two stages of language change
- innovation (creation of new words/meaning of saying something
2.diffusion (spread of a feature from orginal user to wider population)
what does archaic mean
old and out dated
what is jean aitchison presicpritvist or descriptivism
despcriptivist
whats the crumbling castle ideology
The Crumbling Castle myth suggests that English was a once great castle, but overtime it has decayed and crumbled into the sea.
whats Aitchinsons view on the crumbling castle idea
She states this is false because the
description of English as a ‘once fine language ‘ is a particularly inaccurate one, as language is constantly changing and evolving. It suggests that there has once was a ‘perfect english’ but how can this be tested when english is consistnetly changing to the needs of its users (as stated by functional theory)
whats the damp spoon ideology
The Damp Spoon myth suggests that ‘bad English’ sticks to people who are lazy. The laziness is reflected by the people that put the damp spoon into the sugar
bowl.
what aitchisons view on the damp spoon ideology
Aitchison, though, states that “the only lazy speech is drunken speech” and that speaking quickly, for example, isn’t a sign of laziness – it is anything but.
Speech described as ‘lazy’ by prescriptivist isnt lazy per say, its just a new way of using language to accomodate the needs of its users
what is the infectious disease ideology
The Infectious Disease myth suggests that ‘bad English’ is like a horrible disease, like herpes, that spreads from person to person. We have no control or vaccine for it .
whats aitchisons view on the infectious disease ideology
Aitchison suggests that the idea that changes are ‘caught’ and
‘spread’ is technically correct, but it is no disease. People pick up changes in language
because they want to.
